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How to choose the best photographer for a wedding
It has become customary not to save on wedding photographers, but how to choose the
best one so that there are no unpleasant disappointments later?
A wedding is a solemn and desirable event in itself. However, for many, this is also
a legitimate reason to start a new family chronicle. Couples carefully choose a photographer
for the wedding, prepare outfits and pay great attention to professional makeup. Not
everyone has the opportunity to make such expenses often, so a wedding photo shoot
takes up a significant part of the wedding day.
I want to remember my happy faces, cunning smiles of friends, my mother's wiped tears.
Wedding photos become the first family relics, which will subsequently be shown to
children, grandchildren and reviewed many times by parents.
Until recently, wedding photography was a rarity or a side income for photographers.
She existed only in stamped poses of frozen photos from the registry office. Now the
market is full of professionals and amateurs. How to choose a good wedding photographer
who will take beautiful pictures and be able to reveal the character of the couple?
Where to look for a wedding photographer
Today, the number of offers from photographers significantly
exceeds the demand for their services. And at the same time, the coordinates of a
good master of photography are transmitted from pair to pair. Finding «your»
specialist is not easy, but still possible. First of all, it should be remembered:
the client has the right to choose!
It is better not to postpone the search for a photographer for the wedding, as in
the hurry of the last preparations it will be difficult to concentrate on the right
choice. In addition, during the wedding seasons - summer and autumn - all the good
masters are full of their scope. Therefore, it is optimal to start looking for a master
about 2-4 months before the celebration, having decided on the amount that will be
spent on photography.
Where to look for a wedding photographer? The easiest way is to use advice or recommendations
from acquaintances or friends. Our portal can be of great help: almost every wedding
photographer is registered in our catalog, where they post information about themselves
and their works. It's easy to leave a request and the wedding photographers will contact
you themselves. All you have to do is choose.
Accomintance with a photographer
As a rule, acquaintance begins with a telephone
conversation. It can be used to make an approximate impression of a person. If a wedding
photographer begins to praise his professionalism from the first word and cannot stop
- this is a reason for distrust.
The commander's intonations of the master, who considers himself a model of artistic
taste, can also be alarming. Such a person in the chase of a good frame is able to
exhaust both the groom and the bride and all the guests.
When meeting in person, you should pay attention to the appearance of the photographer.
Creative people often look somewhat unusual, and their behavior can be extravagant.
If it doesn't bother you and the behavior doesn't border on inadequacy - then everything
is fine. It is important that the wedding photographer is pleasant to you as a person,
because for the whole day he will turn into a shadow, an assistant and a best friend.
It is important what photographic equipment the master uses, how he processes photos
- the technical equipment should be at a high level. If the first impression is favorable,
you can move on to the next stage.
Studying the portfolio
Samples of the photographer's works are what you
should pay attention to most of all. The presented portfolio determines the style
of work, the quality of the pictures and the general vision of the weddings by the
photographer.
For a more adequate assessment, ask to view several completely photographed weddings
- so you will evaluate the difference between the perception of different couples
and evaluate the quality to the end, because for the portfolio photographers select
the best of the best shots.
When considering albums, you should pay attention to important details. The photos
of the groom with the bride should be about twice as many as the pictures of the other
guests. A real master will always choose the right angle, pay due attention not to
landscapes or monuments, but to people. An additional advantage is the photographer's
ability to find unexpected photo solutions that make the picture memorable. The higher
the professionalism, the more artistic the shooting will be.
It is worth remembering that wedding photography is an art, not an ordinary photo
report from the wedding venue. It's very good if the master has positive feedback
on his work from grooms and brides who captured their wedding with his help.
Also, a good check of the photographer can be a pre-wedding love-story shooting –
so you get to know each other better, evaluate the result and get beautiful shots
for posting on your wedding website or for demonstration at a wedding banquet.
Assing questions
Whe agreeing on the provision of services, you need
to find out all the important points. First of all, clearly stipulate the amount that
is allocated for wedding photos. In addition to the cost, it is necessary to clarify
what you get at the output - how many hours of work, how many shot frames, what types
of processing and how many frames. It is important that the photos are issued on discs.
Actively working wedding photographers have their own style of disc design. If you
are offered to send photos via ftp server, do not agree. It's fast, but extremely
inconvenient. Require the result of the work on the disk.
Some photographers also make video clips and design wedding photo books - specify
these options and their cost in advance.
It is best to stipulate the timing of the photos in advance. Due to the photographer's
heavy workload, they may vary. Also, a lot depends on whether the wedding photographer
himself processes the photo or his assistant does it.
Photographers often ask to pay a certain amount in the form of an advance payment.
It is common practice today to conclude a contract for the provision of services:
in case of unforeseen circumstances, it will help to solve the problems that have
arisen.
The bride and groom can express their ideas and wishes for some photos, as well as
show the photographer examples of works that seem successful to them. Today, wedding
photographers offer not only regular, but also staged wedding shoots, from which films
or photo albums are subsequently made.
Perhaps the chosen master has his own creative ideas, which he would like to share
with the newlyweds or advise on the implementation of a themed wedding.
Summary
- Do not delay with the choice of a photographer. In
the fruitful months for weddings and round dates, good photographers have every day.
- It is better to hold several meetings with potential
photographers – so you can compare the approach to the matter and the nature
of the work performed. This will make the choice easier.
- The wedding photographer shoots mainly only weddings
and has a lot of experience behind him, as well as many satisfied customers.
- You need to be very careful when choosing a photographer,
but trusting your intuition and taste is also not bad. The main thing is that the
newlyweds like the master's work - this should be remembered first of all.
